By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Saturday upsets in the Sun Belt Conference on Oct. 15 are sure to bring added importance to the remaining conference games after Old Dominion pummeled Coastal Carolina,49-21, and Georgia Southern manhandled James Madison, 45-38.
In other conference matchups this week, Louisiana defeated Marshall, 23-13, in a nationally televised, Wednesday night game (Oct. 12), while Troy edged Texas State, 17-14, South Alabama got by Louisiana-Monroe, 41-34, and Southern Miss survived Arkansas State, 20-19 on the weekend.
Appalachian State and Georgia State had the weekend off before next week’s Wednesday night tilt at Kidd Brewer Stadium, on Oct. 18.
While ODU is 3-3 overall, at 2-0 in conference play it remains one of only two undefeated Sun Belt teams. The win over the Chanticleers catapults the Monarchs into first place in the highly competitive East Division of the conference. Old Dominion has yet to play Georgia Southern (Oct. 22), @Georgia State (Oct. 29), Marshall (Nov. 5), James Madison (Nov. 12), @Appalachian State (Nov. 19), and @South Alabama (Nov. 26).
At 5-1 overall, 2-0 in conference, South Alabama may have a stronger grip on the West Division, but it also faces a gauntlet in finishing out the regular season. That series of games begins with Troy (Oct. 20), @Arkansas State (Oct. 29), @Georgia Southern (Nov. 5), Texas State (Nov. 12), @Southern Miss (Nov. 19), and vs. Old Dominion (Nov. 26).
With apparent parity emerging in the Sun Belt given losses by traditional powers Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Coastal Carolina along with Saturday’s loss by the season’s latest SBC darling, James Madison, in the East Division, every remaining game becomes “must win” for every school harboring realistic hopes for reaching the Sun Belt Championship Game, a matchup of East and West division winners.
In the West, South Alabama is threatened by Troy and Southern Miss, each with one loss, while all of the other teams in the division have more than one conference loss already to date, including 2021 SBC title holder, Louisiana.
To date, only Coastal Carolina, at 6-1 overall, has reached bowl eligible.
STANDINGS
East Division
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- Old Dominion (2-0, 3-3)
- Coastal Carolina (3-1, 6-1)
- James Madison (3-1, 5-1)
- Georgia State (1-1, 2-4)
- Georgia Southern (1-2, 4-3)
- Appalachian State (1-2, 3-3)
- Marshall (0-2, 3-3)
West Division
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- South Alabama (2-0, 5-1)
- Troy (3-1, 5-2)
- Southern Miss (1-1, 3-3)
- Texas State (1-2, 3-4)
- Louisiana (1-2, 3-3)
- Arkansas State (1-3, 2-5)
- UL-Monroe (1-3, 2-5)
